Richard Marsolais

Richard George Marsolais, of Eagle River, died June 14, 2013 at his daughter’s home in Anchorage after a long battle with cancer. He was 79.

He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts on Sept. 19, 1933.

His family moved to California in 1938 where he was raised. He attended San Bernardino Junior College, obtaining a Associates Degree in Accounting and Business Administration.

He entered federal service in 1952 as a GS-1 Tab Equipment Operator at Norton Air Force Base.

He was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving at the Presidio in San Francisco and overseas in Japan with the American Graves Registration Service Group.

He returned to Civil Service in 1955 and served at Norton Air Force Base and the Pacific Missile Range Point Magu, progressing to Operations Chief as a GS-11.

In 1966, Marsolais was transferred to the U.S. Army at Fort Richardson and was promoted to Chief of Systems GS-12 in 1967.

He spent 25 years at Fort Richardson and retired after 38 years of civil service.

After retirement he worked for his daughter and son-in-law for 20 years at One Stop! Travel and DQ Grill and Chill, where he was affectionately referred to as “Mr. M.”

Richard was affiliated with St. Andrew Catholic Church in Eagle River.

He was also actively involved in the community and especially the running community, always present to offer a helping hand when his wife of 55 years, Mary, was running.

His hobbies were scrap booking for his granddaughter, coin collecting, stamp collecting and he always put his family first.

“Thank you Richard for touching our lives. No one you ever came in contact with did not feel your goodness,” his family said.

Richard is survived by his wife, Mary Veronica Marsolais of Eagle River; daughters, Nedra Olson of Wasilla and Kathleen Todd of Anchorage; grandsons, Michael and Benjamin Olson and granddaughter Ashley Todd, all of Colorado; son-in-laws Fred Olson of Wasilla and Greg Todd of Anchorage; sister, Ann Wickum of Oregon; brothers-in-law, Thomas Wickum of Oregon, James Guilfoyle of Ennis, Ireland, and Frank Guilfoyle of San Francisco, Calif.; sisters-in-law, Nuala O’Callaghan and Theresa Guilfoyle of Ennis, Ireland; nephews Anthony O’Callaghan of Ennis, Ireland, Robert and John Wickum of California and Richard Wickum of Alabama; and niece Deirdre of England.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Nedra Nolet; step mother, Mary Marsolais and father, Wilfrid Marsolais.

In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements were with Janssen’s Evergreen Memorial Chapel; to view the online obituary and sign the guestbook please visit www.janssenfuneralhomes.com.